Farmland biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and productive agricultural landscapes. Yet across Europe, farmland birds – key indicators of environmental health – have suffered sharp declines as farming has intensified. As they pass over the fields of Brandenburg in eastern Germany, two satellites are doing work that an army of
In the village of Suonenjoki, the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) stands surrounded by a forest of pine trees. The local soils are not fertile and pine is pretty much the only species that can grow there. But in a nursery on campus, where young trees are grown from seed before being planted,
Strolling through a forest, you may notice that the air is filled with sound. Birds sing, insects and small mammals rustle through the undergrowth, and at dusk bats squeak as they communicate with each other. These soundscapes contain a wealth of information about which animals are present, how many there are and how healthy an
Ph. Male sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia goodallae) from Mount Ribáuè, Mozambique. Krystal Tolley, CC BY Krystal Tolley, University of Johannesburg Tropical rainforests are known for their unique biodiversity, with species found nowhere else on Earth. But nearly 30% of tropical rainforest has been destroyed or has become seriously degraded since 1990. Many of these
Estelle Razanatsoa, University of Cape Town; Lindsey Gillson, University of Cape Town, and Malika Virah-Sawmy, Humboldt University of Berlin Madagascar is home to seven species of baobab trees, of which six are found nowhere else on the planet. Many of the trees have been alive for well over 1,000 years. The ancient trees
Beneath the deep blue waters of Tenerife lies a dramatic seascape shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. Submerged lava tubes and jagged basalt formations create an underwater world unlike any other. This unique marine environment, just off Spain’s Canary Islands, teems with life. Divers may encounter endangered sea turtles, graceful eagle rays, elusive sharks,
In an industrial quarter outside Buenos Aires, a hummingbird hovers over a vibrant bed of plants and flowers. Two years ago, the area was a stretch of grey streets and factory units. Today, EU-funded researchers are bringing nature to urban Argentina, in a collaboration between European and Latin American cities. The pavements of
In 1998, in a small park in Zurich, Switzerland, one bug woke up in a new world. The bricks on the roof of a local garden, imported from China, had brought with them a hidden guest: a brown marmorated stink bug. Fast forward to 2024, and the species – Halyomorpha halys – has
Ph. IRENA/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND Isabela del Alcázar, IE University If I had to sum up COP29 in a single word, it would be entropy. Borrowed from thermodynamics, this concept describes the delicate balance between order and disorder, a principle that governs both natural and human systems. An ecosystem, much like the climate negotiations,
Navigating the World of Sustainable Fisheries As global populations continue to swell, the hunger for seafood intensifies, placing mounting stress on marine habitats and fish populations. Sustainable fisheries are a crucial initiative, striving to manage and harvest aquatic stocks thoughtfully, meeting today’s demands while preserving marine bounty for the generations yet to come.